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Putin signs Russia’s largest national budget, bolstering military spending

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a national budget for the next three years that increases spending by around 25% and reportedly devotes a record amount to defense as the the country’s military operation in Ukraine drags on. The budget foresees spending in 2024 of 36.6 trillion rubles ($415 billion) with an expected deficit of 1.595 trillion rubles ($9.5 billion).After the budget was passed by the lower house of the parliament, Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said it was developed specifically to fund the military and to mitigate the impact of international sanctions imposed after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.Record low unemployment, higher wages and targeted social spending should help the Kremlin ride out the domestic impact of pivoting the economy toward the military, but could pose a problem in the long term, analysts say. Part of the Russian budget is secret as the Kremlin tries to conceal its military plans and sidestep scrut...

Kenya raises alarm as flooding death toll rises to 76, with thousands marooned by worsening rains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Kenyan government on Monday urged people living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as heavy rains and flash floods continued to wreak havoc across East Africa.At least 76 people have died and 40,000 displaced from their homes since the rains began pounding the country in October. President William Ruto convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday and said 38 of Kenya’s 47 counties had been affected by floods and mudslides made worse by the El Niño phenomenon.State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed also noted “disease outbreaks, destruction of infrastructure and property as well as prolonged power outages” across Kenya and the region.The worst affected areas are the coastal cities of Mombasa and Malindi and the northern Kenya region which borders Somalia, also hit hard by flooding.In Kenya’s Garissa town, thousands of people have been displaced after their homes were swept away.“All roads are destroyed. I don’t even know where...

Brhett Vickery to join WGN Morning News as traffic reporter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN News has hired Brhett Vickery as traffic reporter. Vickery will join WGN Morning News on December 11, according to Dominick Stasi, WGN-TV news director.  She replaces Sarah Jindra, who is now co-host of the new WGN afternoon show, “Spotlight Chicago.”“With her background in morning news and versatility in reporting, we’re excited to welcome Brhett to our ‘must watch’ WGN Morning News,” commented Stasi.  “Brhett has a passion for helping others and will help our morning viewers as they get out the door.”Before joining WGN-TV, Vickery spent nearly three years as a reporter for Fox6 News in Milwaukee, first as morning reporter for “Weekend WakeUp,” and most recently joining the weekday news team.  Prior to Fox6, she spent nearly two years as a multimedia journalist at WSET-TV in Lynchburg, Virginia.  Vickery got her start in Chicago while at NBC Sports Chicago as an intern, working on events such as Chicago Cubs and White Sox games and the Chicago Bulls NBA...

Monday Forecast: Cold with flurries, temps in upper 20s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Cold conditions Monday and mostly cloudy. Winds: W 10-15 G25. High: 27. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly clear tonight. Winds: WNW 10-15 G20. Low: 15.Tuesday Forecast: Mostly sunny conditions. Winds: WNW 5-10 G15. High: 25.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Suspect in shooting of 3 men of Palestinian descent in Vermont pleads not guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

Jason J. Eaton (Burlington Police Department)(WFFF) - A man pleaded not guilty to attempted murder Monday in connection with the weekend shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont — an attack that is being investigated as a possible hate crime.Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday, a day after the shooting outside his apartment building near the University of Vermont campus. He appeared in court by video from jail, speaking only to confirm his identity. His attorney entered pleas of not guilty on his behalf, and a judge ordered him held without bail pending a hearing that likely will be held in the next few days.Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department is investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Vermont authorities in the investigation.There has been a sharp increase in threats directed against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities across the U...

16-year-old boy shot in drive-by on West Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy was shot during a drive-by on the city's West Side.The shooting happened around 9:40 a.m. Monday in the 1200 block of South Albany in the North Lawndale neighborhood.Police said the 16-year-old boy was walking when a black SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer, approached and someone inside fired shots.The teen was shot in the hand and thigh. He was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition. According to police, the offending vehicle fled eastbound, then northbound on Sacramento. UChicago issues alert after armed robbery near campus No one is in custody. Area Four Detectives are investigating.

Here are the states with the highest average student debt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

(The Hill) -- A new analysis says Maryland has the highest average student loan debt per borrower, coming in at more than $40,000 each.Degree Choices, an organization dedicated to helping students with their higher education journey, analyzed federal data to rank the states with the most student loan debt. The top five states are all on the East Coast, with Maryland in first at $43,116 per borrower. Georgia comes in second with an average of $41,775 each, Virginia with $39,599, Florida at $38,683 and South Carolina borrowers showing an average of $38,360.The bottom five states all show an average of less than $32,000 per borrower. North Dakota has the least amount of average student loan borrower debt per borrower at $30,000. Wyoming is second to last at $30,357, after Iowa at $30,759. South Dakota and Oklahoma come in at $31,746 and $31,875, respectively.  How school boards became one of democracy’s front lines Student loan debt nationwide has hit more than ...

Innocence hearing being held in Travis County murder case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN News Today's morning headlines for Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- More than 30 years after Allen Andre Causey was convicted in the murder of Anita Byington, the 331st Criminal District Court will hear new grounds filed by the Texas Innocence Project on behalf of Causey.Causey was convicted on July 11, 1992 before being paroled in October 2022. On Oct. 4, 2022, the Texas Innocence Project filed its writ for habeas corpus, according to a press release from Travis County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit. The Texas Innocence Project's writ for habeas corpus cited five claims, with two of those already having been litigated. In those litigation causes, the TCDA "agreed that Mr. Causey was entitled to relief," per the office's release."The Judge has signed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law that the State sponsored false testimony through the calling of a witness who was with the decedent the night o...

Has your car been stolen? Austin auto theft on the rise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Auto theft in Austin continues to be a growing issue as more and more people are falling victim.In October of 2022 there were 403 auto thefts, but in October of this year, there were 575.A look at yearly data shows a 32% increase in auto thefts. So far this year there have been 5,633 according to the APD Chief's Report.Back in May, detectives said they were investigating a growing number of thefts targeting Kia and Hyundai cars throughout the community.The Austin Police Department’s auto theft interdiction team said some of these auto thefts are likely part of the “Kia Challenge” making the rounds on social media. They described this scheme as thieves exploiting a “design vulnerability” in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, which makes it easier for them to steal.Police said thieves are ripping apart the steering column, exposing the wiring and then somehow using a USB to eventually start the vehicles and drive away.According to APD, buying a locking bar and placing it on you...

How to help Austinites struggling to pay rising utility bills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:20:22 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday is known as "Giving Tuesday" to encourage people to help others in need in their community, including those struggling to pay their rising utility bills. The City of Austin Utilities is reminding neighbors about its Gift of Comfort program, which allows anyone to donate money and make a payment towards a specific customer’s utility bill as a gift. This is happening ahead of Austin Energy customers seeing another rate increase in December. Austin Energy rate increasing 5% in December The utility recently shared it's raising its power supply adjustment rate by 5% starting on Dec. 1. According to Austin Energy, that will translate to less than $2 more per month for the typical residential customer. The utility's general manager said in a memo the increase is “due to a lack of adequate progress toward making up for the existing PSA under-recovery.” How does this program work? People can pay for any amount of a customer’s bil...